Monday, January 15, 2007
It was this fortnight a year ago, when Goliath destroyed David. And everyone was happy.
Aussie Open time! The forgotten Slam! The too-soon Slam! The Slam I would LOVE to go to! The Slam that will forever be remembered as the time Justine Henin-Hardenne so ungraciously quit in the finals. In a lovely twist of fate, dare I say irony, Mauresmo quipped, "I was ready to die out there today," while JHH quit for a tummy ache. It is also the time when the Pot is back-to-back annoyed by another long post of mine. The summer heat, the injuries, the somewhat long interim between seasons, it is unpredictable all around...or is it? Deep.The Impossible Chase against Roger Federer, Year #4, can begin. Gentlemen, be ready to fail.
Men Top Quarter: Top Seeds: #1 Fed. #7 Tommy Robredo, #11 Baghdatis
Potential Spoilers here: #24 Juan Carlos Fererro, #18 Richard Gasquet and unseeded Gail Monfils and Feliciano Lopez.
All Federerer. Interesting quarter match up which was last year’s final against Baghy, who, with his entourage of insanity, will take out Robredo.
Quarters: Fed over Baghy.
Second Quarter: Top Seeds: #4 Ljubicic (who just lost) #6 Roddick
Spoilers: #16 David Ferrer, #22 Domink Hrbaty, #24 Marat! And unseeded Vince Spadea and Mardy Fish (who knocked out Ljubicic
With Ljuby out on top, I will go with Ferrer to make it to the quarters. On the bottom (hot!) Safat will take out Roddick in Round 3 in an amazing match. But Safin pulls it together well and I think Andy is gonna crumble.
Quarters: Safin over Ferrer
Third Quarter: Top Seeds: #3 Davydenko, #8 Nalbandian, #12 Haas (hotness)
Spoilers: #29 Malisse, #21 Tursonov and unseeded Max Mirnyi and Oliver Rochus
Kind of a snoozer of a quarter with no one very well known, and the top seeds are not set as making it through to the latter stages of tourneys. Perennial favorite of mine Tommy Haas, now is your chance! But I don’t see it happening, sadly.
Quarters: Tursonov over Haas
Fourth Quarter: Top Seeds: #2 Nadal, #5 Blake.
Spoilers: #15 Andy Murray, #19 Hewitt (hometown) and unseeded Ginepri.
Potential tough first rounder for Blake against veteran Carlos Moya and Nadal is up against the man who almost knocked him out of Wimbledon, hot American Robert Kendrick. Nadal should fall early, the problem is, there is no one of worth until Murray in the round of 16. Blake will step it up first week.
Quarters: Murray over Blake.
Semis: Fed over Safin; Tursonov over Murray
Final: Fed over Tursonov. I guess
Big Babes of Tennis: Start your engines. A Justine free Slam! :-) And the start of the Open-Era without Lindsay Davenport (a goodbye to her to come)
Top Quarter: Top Seeds: #1 Sharapova, #8 Schnyder
Spoilers: Up and comers #13 Ivanovic, #12 Chakvetadze, and homegrown #24 Sam Stosur (who I love) and Alicia Molik, surprise quarter finalist two years ago.
Watch the prettiest round of 16, Sharapova over Ivanovic. Schnyder is tricky but getting up there. She will fall earlyish
Quarters: Sharapovs over Stosur
Second Quarter: Top Seeds: #4 Clijsters, #6 Hinigis, #9 Safina
Spoilers: #19 Na Li – watch for her! Could see her causing damage.
Hmmm, I am lost here. Safina who has positioned herself to be on the brink of a big win at a major recently beat Hingis. Clijsters, a somewhat nonentity in slams lately just won big twice. But she is shaky
Quarters: On a limb: Safina over Clijsters
Third Quarter: Top Seeds: #5 Petrova, #3 Kuznetsova, #11 Jankovic
Spoilers: SERENA! #16 Sharar Peer
Kutzy will do nothing, come on NADIA! Jankovic who looks like a total bitch has had an amazing start to the year. She almost took out Justine in the US Open semis. I can’t root against Nadia. She will take out Serena in a gritty performance, then annoyingly fall to Jankovic.
Quarters: Jankovic over Peer
Fourth Quarter: Top Seeds: #2 Mauresmo, #6 Dementieva, #10 Vaidisova
Spoilers: #14 Schiavone
A relatively kind draw for Mauresmo, who I don’t see stepping it up like last year.
Quarters: Mauresmo over Vaidisova
Semis: Sharapova over Safina; Jankovic over Mauresmo
Finals: Sharapova over Jankovic
